Alt-Country Group Fust Ends “Southwest Passage” Tour on High Note at Proud Larry’s

Fust Concludes Successful Tour at Proud Larry’s

Proud Larry’s, an iconic hub for live music, was buzzing with anticipation on the evening of Tuesday, March 19, 2024. The venue played host to the final show of alt-country group Fust’s “Southwest Passage” spring tour, marking a grand finale for the Durham, N.C.-based band.

Surveying the crowd before taking the stage, Fust’s camaraderie was palpable. It was clear that the ties between the band members, some of whom have known each other for over a decade, extended far beyond their shared love for music.

Band Built on Friendship

Despite each band member being involved with their independent musical projects, the close-knit bond they share is what keeps Fust together. Drummer Avery Sullivan remarked, “I think recently on this tour, we have had disparate, different people say that we sound like we are friends. I think if that is remembered in any way, we succeeded alongside these other goals of songwriting, recording and contributing to the tradition.”

The affection that the band shares for each other wasn’t lost on the audience. Brennan McInnis, a junior art history major, noted, “I could tell that Fust genuinely enjoyed playing music and that they have good relationships with each other. They were cracking jokes, smiling at each other during songs and kept good attitudes.”

Shared Interest Makes the Music Sweeter

The concert wasn’t just a gathering of music fans but also held some who were well-acquainted with Fust’s works. Graham Hamaker from Starkville, Miss., mentioned, “I knew about Fust a little bit beforehand. My friend Thomas played a show recently with them in New Orleans, and I am familiar with the keyboard player who has a record label called Dear Life Records. They have been putting out a bunch of good records, so it is kind of a funny combination of North Carolina people who play in different bands, and that’s cool.”

Before Fust took center stage at Proud Larry’s, the floor was warmed by Small Trucks, a Mississippi-based folk rock band. Their lead singer, Daniel Splaingard, set the tone for the night by playing tracks from his album “Moon Burn”.

A Serene and Personal Performance

Audiences were endeared by Splaingard’s charisma as he filled the gaps between songs with humorous anecdotes and captivating storytelling, especially his vivid account behind the inception of the tune “Blue Heron”. According to Brennan McInnis, “Small Trucks was very mellow and low-key. The lead singer was also very personable.”

Moving seamlessly from Small Trucks’ soothing melodies, Fust amped up the crowd further by delivering a rendition of their song “Violent Jubilee”—currently their most popular track on Spotify.

The night was one of gratitude for Fust. Frontman Aaron Dowdy expressed, “We are very proud to play at Proud Larry’s. We love this town. Just seeing all of the bands on the walls, it is a very special thing. Thanks for having us.”

As the Curtain Comes Down

As the night concluded and the echoes of their music slowly faded away, Fust left the stage with refreshed bonds of friendship and a deeper love for their craft. Undeniably, their love for music and their playful camaraderie are the two cornerstones that continue to drive their success.